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Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer whose career has spanned seven decades. She has won 11 Grammys in addition to Dove Awards and Stellar Awards; Caesar is known as the "First Lady of Gospel Music" and "The Queen of Gospel Music".
Caesar was born in Durham, North Carolina. She is the tenth of 13 children. Caesar first began singing and performing for family and friends. She first recorded in 1951, at age 12. Her professional adult ‘career’ began in 1957 when she was 19, when she approached Albertina Walker (The queen of Gospel music) about joining The Caravans, one of the most popular gospel groups at that time.
She sang with Albertina Walker, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington and James Cleveland while in the Caravans. She recorded and performed with the Caravans from 1958 until 1966. Thereafter she began pursuing a solo career with two albums, entitled My Testimony and I’ll Go, backed up by the Institutional Radio Choir. She made a name for herself in the gospel music circuit, making guest appearances on the Bobby Jones gospel show and other popular television shows. Caesar credits Albertina Walker as her mentor and “Queen of Gospel Music”.
Caesar’s singing style also led her to work as an evangelist. In 1983, Caesar married Bishop Harold Ivory Williams and became co-pastor of Mt. Calvary Holy Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and later in Raleigh-Durham.
In 1985, Caesar obtained a degree in business management from Shaw University. The degree prompted her to immediately pursue a master of divinity degree at Duke University.
Caesar lives what she preaches. In 1990 she told Jet magazine, “Fifty percent of everything I earn on the road I put back into the community.” Shirley Caesar Outreach Ministries, Inc., which is in her hometown of Durham, North Carolina, serves those in need by providing food, clothing, and emergency funds. During its first year alone, more than 500 families received help. The ministry relies entirely on contributions and income donated by Caesar and Bishop Williams since they are unwilling to rely on public funding as other charities do.
Between 1981 and 1995, she received seven Dove Awards for Black Gospel Album of the Year for Live at the G.M.W.A., Celebration, Christmasing, Sailin‘, Live In Chicago, Go and Rejoice. She received two Black Gospel Song of the Year Awards for “He’s Working It Out for You” and “Hold My Mule”. She has performed with such performers as Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Dorothy Norwood, Faith Evans, Dottie Peoples, Arnold Houston, Kim Burrell, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin, Tonex and Tye Tribbett among others.
Shirley Caesar is also an actress. She acted in movies, such as Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998) with Larenz Tate and Little Richard, Fighting Temptations (2003) with Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr. and The Unseen (2005) with Steve Harris. She also acted in 1 TV episode of “Good News” in 1998 as Aunt Shirley.
In May 2016, the National Museum of African American Music honored Caesar with the Rhapsody & Rhythm Award in Nashville, Tennessee in advance of the planned 2018 opening of the historic museum.
According to Soundscan, she has sold 2.2 million albums since 1991. She has made several notable appearances, including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH1, a White House performance for George Bush, and a speech on the Evolution of Gospel Music to the US Treasury Department. In October 2017, Caeser was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy. Indeed we can never write off your epic influence in gospel music.
Pastor Caesar’s credits also include a series of commercials for MCI Communications and numerous awards for her recordings.
AWARDS & HONORS
11 Grammy Award
14 Stellar Awards
18 Doves
1 RIAA gold certification
1 Essence Award
McDonald’s Golden Circle Lifetime Achievement Award
NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award
SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy.
Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music
▪Caesar was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000
▪Caesar was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
▪The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proudly honored gospel singer Shirley Caesar with the 2,583rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, June 28, 2016.
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